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Waiting for Permission?

For years (and even now, if I’m honest) I waited for permission. I needed confirmation from this person or an OK from that authority. I needed someone to say my idea was good enough, that I was on target or at least getting close. And then it hit me.

I was waiting for reassurance that my idea would be accepted. But by whom?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized there wasn’t a committee in the sky judging whether or not my idea was good enough. There wasn’t a single, all-knowing voice granting or denying me permission. There wasn’t a set of guidelines that said: Yes, you are savvy enough or smart enough or worthy of this. Go get ’em tiger. In truth, I was free to do what I wanted to do. It was OK.

I didn’t need someone else to tell me to go for it. I didn’t need someone else to do it first. I didn’t need anyone’s approval. If something sounded good, I was free to try it . Of course, it might not work. But that wasn’t the point. The point is freedom. There was no more waiting, only ideas to mold and plans to enact.

But just in case that isn’t good enough, I hereby grant you lifelong permission.

You’re waiting for approval, for acceptance, for permission. And though you don’t need it, I’m giving it to you just in case the message above isn’t enough to soothe your worrisome mind. I grant you permission.

I grant you permission to be yourself. I grant you permission to take that brilliant idea you have and run with it. I grant you permission to live outside the norm and to hop-skip-jump to the beat of your own quirky drummer.

I grant you permission to do things you’ve never done.

I grant you permission to reach out to other people in ways you never have, pushing yourself past where it feels comfortable but where it also feels real.

I grant you permission to say what you think and to feel what you feel.

I grant you permission to stop doing what you think we want you to do. We don’t want you to do that anyway.

I grant you permission, my friend, to do, to be, and to have all the things that quiet little voice of hope whispers in your ear.

Don’t wait. Don’t linger.

Make it happen.

About Jason Gracia: For over 15 years I’ve written about to help people improve and enjoy their lives. If you enjoyed this post, sign up above to receive our free Motivation Starter Kit, which now includes 70 quick and easy tips to get motivated today.